Steering mechanism for toys



.Ayg; 20,1957

Filed June '11, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l Fllllllll.

ki l? Waller H. Johnson I INVENTOR. 1 1

Aug. 20, 1957 w H. JOHNSON. 2,803,090

, STEERING MECHANISM FOR TOYS Filed June 11, 1954 v s Sheets-sheaf 2 Wolfe! H. Johnson 1 INVENTORL BYM 20, 95 w. H/JOHNSON 2,803,090

STEERING MECHANISM FOR TOYS Filed June 11, 1954 v s Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.7

Walter, H Jo/mon INVEN TOR.

, 2,803,690 STEERING MECHANISM non ToYs 'Walter Johnson, Tacoma, Wash; 'Applicafion June 11,1954, Serial'No. 436,145

' 1 2Claims. (Ch is-#213) i This invention relates to a steering mechanism for toys and more-specifically provides improved construction of directional steeringfor toys or other devices wherein the continuous motion of such devices will actuate the1steering mechanism. I

An;object-of this invention is to provide a steering mechanism for toys wherein a'definite pattern of movement of the 'toy is provided and wherein such pattern may be easily and quickly changed as desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide a steering mechanism for toys which will sequentially guide the toys in opposite angular directions that are determined by'a guide plate which may be easily changed or adjusted for forming different patterns of movement.

Still another object'of this invention is to provide a steering mechanism for toys utilizing a continuous helical groove reversed upon itself in a rotatable member for transmitting the rotational movement of the steering wheel to a'transverse movement of a guide'member that is slidably received in a slot in a steering. plate wherein the slot is provided with offset portions that force pivotal movement of the steering wheels wherein the path of the steering wheels will be repeated as the guide member slides back and forth-on the rotatable cylinder that is provided with the helical.groove.

.A still further object of this invention is to provide a steering mechanism for toys that is simple in construction, easily adjustable for various paths of movement, easy and attractive in use, well adapted for its intended purposes, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Yet another objectof this invention is to provide a steeringrnechanism for toys or other devices wherein the toy or device may be utilized in certain types of games wherein points are scored by-the ability to steer the toy through an entrance or exit, determining the point of turn, or collision with other objects, thereby forming a highly amusing toy and one that will hold the attention of an imaginative child.

These together with other object and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of constructionnnd operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings-forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer-to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure Us a side elevational-view showing one embodiment of the toy of thi invention utilizing the steering mechanism wherein the device is illustrated as employed in a toy automobile;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view showing the construction of the toy of the present invention showing the conventional spring wound driving mechanism and the novel steering mechanism;

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical section taken substantially along section line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the details of construction of the steering mechanism of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a portion of the ice frame together with the mounting means for the steering Pl Figure 5 is a detailed side elevational view showing the elongated guide member for sliding engagement with the cylindrical drum;

Figure 6 is a detailed view showing the mounting means for securing the plate to the depending rods for attaching the plate to the frame;

Figure 7 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substantially along a center line of the construction of Figure '3, showing the details of construction and the relationship of the various components of the steering mechanism of the present invention; I

Figure 8 is a top plan sectional view showing the details of the steering plate and its relationship'with the pivotal axle; and 1 Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the inverted U-shaped bracket for rotatably supporting the axle and the cylindrical member which drives the guide member.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral 10 generally designates the steering mechanism for toys of the present invention wherein the toy is generally indicated by the numeral 12 and the toy driving mechanism is generally indicated by the numeral 14. In the specific embodiment as illustrated, the toy 12 is illustrated as a simulated automotive vehicle, however, it will be understood that any type of vehicle or similar device that is propelled over a supporting surface and may be guided in different directions lends itself to easy adaptation for use of the steering mechanism 10 of the present invention.

As-illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle driving mechanism 14 includes a winding key 16 for tensioning a spring device having a driving gear 13 for engaging a driven gear 20 rigidly secured to a transverse shaft or axle 22 having driving wheels 24 mounted on remote ends thereof wherein the vehicle 12 will be propelled along a supporting surface until the tension of the coil spring of the driving mechanism 14 has been dissipated. This particular construction is well known in spring driven toy vehicles and while the drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment, it will be understood that the steering mechanism 10 may be utilized in toys 12 that are driven through electrical, mechanical, chemical or other means wherein the toy is propelled over the supporting surface by driving wheels or similar traction devices and the steering mechanism is used for guiding the path of movement over the'supporting surface in a novel manner as described hereinafter.

Referring now specifically to Figures 3-9, it will be seen that the steering -mechanism It). includes generally aframe 26 attached to and supported from the shell of the toy 12-for pivotally, supporting an inverted U-shaped bracket 28 by a suitable pivot bolt 30 which extends through the bight portion 32 of the U-shaped member 28 and a portion of the frame 26,:thereby pivotally supporting the inverted U-shaped member 28 on the frame 26. endsofthe-legs of the U-shaped'inember 28 are each provided with an aperture 34 for rotatably journaling a transverse axle .36 having a wheel 38 secured to each endthereof. As specifically shown in Figure 9, the legs of the U-shaped member:28 are provided with a forwardly The remote securely on the rotatable axle 36 wherein the cylinder 46 will be driven by the rotation of the wheels 38 and axle 36 at a reduced speed due to the relative size of the gears 50 and 52. The cylinder 46 is provided with reversed helical grooves 54 and 56 that are continuous with each other and are formed with reverse pitch so that the grooves 54 and 56 are disposed in crossing relation for a purpose described hereinafter. The grooved cylinder 46 is a conventional mechanical expedient as shown in Patent No. 1,765,806, issued June 24, 1930.

As specially illustrated in Figures 4-8, it will be seen that a plurality of vertically depending studs 58 are secured to the frame member 26 and the lower ends of each of the studs 58 are provided with a threaded socket 60 for receiving a screw threaded fastener 62 that retains a steering or guide plate 64 thereon. The steering or guide plate 64 is positioned under the axle 36 for a purpose described hereinafter.

As shown in Figure 5, a vertically elongated guide member 66 is provided with a central aperture 68 having an inwardly projecting lug 70 thereon and one end of the elongated member 66 i provided with a straight shank 72 and the other end of the elongated guide member 66 is provided with a slot 74 which is generally U-shaped, for a purpose described hereinafter. An elongated transverse slot 76 is provided in the guide plate 64 and the slot 76 is provided with angularly oifset portions 78 at each end thereof. The elongated guide member 66 is positioned over the cylinder 46 with the projecting lug 70 engaged in either groove 54 or 56 and the slot 74 engaging the guide rod 42 and the straight shank portion 72 engaging the slot '76. As the driving mechanism 14 moves the vehicle 12 forwardly, the wheels 38 and axle 36 are rotated, thereby driving the cylinder 46 and transversely moving the elongated guiding element 66 thereby engaging the straight shank portion 72 of the element 66 with the angulated end portion 78 of the slot 76 in the guide plate 64, thereby urging the cylinder 46, the U-shaped member 28, axle 36 and guide wheels or steering wheels 38 about a vertical axis formed by the pivot bolt 30.

In operation, the forward motion of the vehicle 12 caused by the driving mechanism 14 is translated to a reciprocatory motion of the guiding element 66 by the double helical grooves 54 and 56 on the periphery of the cylinder 46 in a manner well known in Patent No. 1,765,806, issued June 24, 1930, and the reciprocating motion of the guide element 66 is transferred to a vertical pivotal movement of the axle 36 due to the angular offset portions of the slot 76 in the guide plate 64. As shown is Figure 8, the particular arrangement of palte 64 will pivot the axle 36 about a vertical axis with a maximum movement of 45. By removing the screw threaded members 62, another plate 64 having a different shaped slot 76 therein may be substituted wherein the path of movement of the vehicle 12 will be changed. It will be understood that as long as the cylinder 46 rotates, the guiding element 66 will reciprocate thereon from one end to the other, thereby pivoting the guiding Wheels 38 in opposite directions at predetermined intervals when the guiding element 66 reaches the outer limits of its movement. If desired, the plate 64 may be movably mounted, wherein various-shaped grooves may be provided in the plate 64 for selective registry with the depending portion 72 of the guiding element 66 wherein the From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described,.and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A steering mechanism for a toy vehicle having a body and rear driving wheels, said steering mechanism comprising an inverted generally U'shaped bracket pivotally suspended from the forward portion of the body for pivotal movement about substantially a vertical axis, a transverse axle journaled in the lower free ends of the U-shaped bracket, a wheel rigid with each end of said axle for rotation therewith and for guiding the movement of the toy vehicle, a transverse rotatable member journaled on said bracket and being driven from said axle, said rotatable member being generally cylindrical with a continuous crossed cam groove therein, a guide member having a central aperture slidably encircling said rotatable member, a transverse guide rod slidably engaging said guide member to prevent rotation thereof, a radially extending pin extending into the groove whereby unidirectional rotation of the rotatable member will cause transverse reciprocation of the guide member on the cylindrical rotating member, said guide member having a depending shank, a guide plate mounted on the body in underling relation to the afle, said guide plate having a transversely elongated cam slot with angulated end portions, said slot receiving the lower free end of the depending shank on the guide member whereby transverse movement of the free end of the shank in the slot causes engagement of the free end of the shank with the angulated end portions of the slot, the rigid mounting of the guide plate on the body causing a reaction turning force to be exerted on the bracket for pivoting the bracket and axle with the wheels thereon about a generally vertical axis thereby changing the direction of movement of the vehicle.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said guide plate is removably attached to the body, the positioning of the plate below the axle facilitating the replacement of the guide plate for mounting guide plates having various cam slot arrangements for varying the path of movement of the vehicle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,332,545 Filippis Mar. 2, 1920 1,357,491 Filippis Nov. 2, 1920 1,756,539 Filippis Apr. 29, 1930 1,808,766 Filippis June 9, 1931 2,488,464 Arpin Nov. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 668,800 Great Britain Mar. 19, 1952 

